ANZ warns customers about remote access scams

ANZ is urging customers to be vigilant of all scam types and to always pause and consider any request to remotely access their personal computer, phone, or device.

They say in remote access scams, criminals make unsolicited contact with victims, usually by text, phone, or email.

ANZ says they impersonate a legitimate company or government agency, such as a telecommunications company, bank or software provider, to gain remote access to a customer’s device for a fictitious reason, such as to fix a technical issue or to prevent their account being hacked.

ANZ Regional Executive Pacific, Sarah Stubbings, says scammers play on people’s fears that their finances or security are in danger.

She says they may instruct the customer to download apps or software to allow access to their bank account or persuade the customer to transfer funds from their account to ‘ensure the account is in working order.

Stubbings says be sceptical of any unsolicited contact, particularly if it is accompanied by a request to download an app, gain remote access to your device or provide your banking details.

She says if you are ever unsure, end the conversation immediately and instead contact the organisation through one of the ways they advertise on their website.

Be wary of any unexpected contact, claiming to have detected issues on your device or with your bank account.

The bank says scammers want you to act quickly and may claim an issue requires immediate resolution but genuine tech support or financial or government institutions will always include identity and security checks and you should always be able to ring them back on a number you have independently sourced from the organisation’s website.

They say be suspicious if a technician asks you to buy software or sign up for a service to fix your computer, or a bank or government agent tells you they are putting funds into your account to help ‘catch a hacker’.

The bank says be suspicious of any requests to transfer funds they say they have credited to your account as legitimate companies or government agents will not ask you to do this.

While the scammer is using your device remotely, they might ask you to log into your online banking so they can make a test payment or refund but genuine companies will never ask you to do this.

They add if you see passcodes being sent to your mobile phone or device by your bank when you are not making or authorising anyone else to make transactions from your account, hang up the phone, delete any app or software you have been asked to download and contact your bank immediately.